August 27, 2025 – The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to prioritising human capacity development through education in Ogoniland, as 500 postgraduate students from the region are set to benefit from the 2025 Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) Scholarship Grant.
Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, Project Coordinator of HYPREP, made this known in Port Harcourt during a sensitisation workshop for the commencement of the 2025 scholarship programme. He emphasised that the selection process will be conducted with fairness, merit, and accountability at its core.
Professor Zabbey urged the prospective beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity, ensuring that the scholarship supports their research work and enhances their careers. He noted that the scheme is not a gift but a reward for hard work.
“You must run the race to earn it, as this scholarship grant is an investment in the brilliance, research, and aspirations of Ogoni youths. It is designed to promote excellence, support researches, and recognise merit,” he said.
Reiterating HYPREP’s continuous commitment to young people, the Project Coordinator maintained that the future of Ogoni lies in their hands. He explained that the scholarship programme, alongside other interventions, is part of efforts to restore livelihoods, build capacity, and implement the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme Report on Ogoniland.
He described the youths as the major beneficiaries of HYPREP’s programmes and encouraged them to uphold the values of peace, education, and unity, which are essential for the region’s lasting development.
Professor Zabbey also called on the Ogoni community, including postgraduate students, to create a conducive environment both offline and online that would help HYPREP achieve its goals.
“In line with our civic responsibility, we must embrace collaboration and constructive engagement so that the Ogoni Cleanup and all its attendant benefits can reach every corner of Ogoniland, from the seafood market in Kaa, Khana Local Government Area, to the lush green farmlands of Korokoro in Tai Local Government Area, from the streets of Akpajo in Eleme Local Government Area, to the fisherfolk in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area. We must act to promote common good,” he said.
The Project Coordinator further stressed the importance of following due process, noting that as a Federal Government project, HYPREP is committed to existing rules and regulations.
“All beneficiaries and stakeholders need to understand that processes and procedures form the backbone of HYPREP’s operations. We urge everyone to approach these processes with seriousness and patience. I would like to discourage the culture of negative comments, especially when there are perceived delays in processes. Instead, I encourage you to direct your questions through the established channels for public engagement. The Project Coordination Office remains open for enquiries, and we are always ready to guide all stakeholders,” Professor Zabbey stated.
Delivering a keynote address at the workshop, Dr Sorbarikor Lebura, Reader of Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship at the Department of Business Administration, Rivers State University, advised beneficiaries to view the scholarship as a seed to be invested wisely in their academic pursuits.
Also speaking, Mr Edward Baa, Managing Director of Pa-Ed Multilinks Consulting, outlined the eligibility criteria for the grant. He disclosed that the application portal will be accessible via the HYPREP website (www.hyprep.gov.ng) from Friday, 29th August 2025, at 6:00 PM (GMT), and will close on 12th September 2025 at the same time.
The sensitisation workshop was attended by postgraduate students across the four local government areas of Ogoni. Others present included AIG Emmanuel Effiom (Rtd.), Chief Security Officer of HYPREP, Mrs Josephine Nzidee, Head of Sustainable Livelihood, and Engineer Ekiyokenegha Didi Clark, Project Support Representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company/JV.